Heel Tough Blog: Former National Champion to Join Michael Malone's Staff

247Sports

Michael Malone is still busy building out the roster for the 2026-27 season, but he still has positions to fill on his coaching staff, after Kim English backed out of the assistant’s role back in April. Last season, veteran NBA assistant Bryan Tibaldi was in Chapel Hill for an interview, but so far, a hire hasn’t been made. With that in mind, the UNC staff got a boost earlier today, as former national champion Deon Thompson will join Malone’s staff as a grad assistant, as Thompson is set to re-enroll at UNC in the business program. The news was first reported by Inside Carolina. 

Thompson, a four-year letterman at North Carolina and member of the 2009 national championship team, joins the staff after a long and distinguished career playing overseas. Thompson spent 15 seasons overseas, playing in 13 different countries, averaging 10.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, while shooting 50% from the field and 33% from behind the arc. During his time in Chapel Hill, Thompson averaged 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting 49% from the field. 

When Malone was officially introduced back in early April, he talked about wanting to strengthen the bond between former players and the current program, despite him being an outsider to the Carolina Family. With Sean May and Pat Sullivan both being retained from the previous staff, combined with the addition of Deon Thompson, it’s safe to say that there will still be Tar Heel representation up and down the sidelines, just like there was under Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, Roy Williams, and even Hubert Davis. 

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